From Narcissism to Melancholia, and Back Again…

Abstract

I have been making the claim throughout this book that Narcissus can be raised from his recent history of negative attribution and brought centre-stage in the performance of sociability. Of course, some might argue that Narcissus should be left exactly where he is: they might say that it is simply not possible to relocate him in this way for he will refuse to be enticed from the imaginary enclosure he cohabits with his own self-image, and even if, hypothetically, we could lure him away from himself, it would be dangerous to do so (remember that Narcissus’ certain fate was punishment for his disregard of others’ interests). But then again, if we believe the critics of ‘cultural narcissism’, Narcissus has long since broken free from his fixation at the poolside, and can be found circulating destructively in the economic and libidinal systems of late modern capitalism. With Narcissus’ entry into the market, the critical declinists perceived a threat to the impersonality of public culture and its opportunities for aesthetic forms of sociability. Contrariwise, I have been concerned to show Narcissus’ communicative side; his capacity for charm, and his active seduction of his self that inevitably leaves its mark on the other. Rather than banish Narcissus back into ‘splendid isolation’, I should like to see him feature more vitally within contemporary psychosocial discourse.